GEOGRAPHY.

Costa Rica is located in the Central American isthmus, between latitudes 8 ° and 12 ° N, and longitudes 82 ° and 86 ° W. Bordered on the east by the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean to the west, with a total area of ​​1290 km of coastline: 212 km on the Caribbean coast and 1 016 km on the Pacific coast. Costa Rica also limits the north with Nicaragua (309 km border) by the Canas-Jerez Treaty of 1858 and the Cleveland Award in 1888 and Panama to the southeast (639 km border) by the treaty Echandi-Fernandez, 1941. As for the maritime boundary, bordering Costa Rica Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean by the treaty Gutierrez-Teran, 1985, with Colombia in the Caribbean Sea by the treaty Facio-Fernández, 1977 and the treaty Gutierrez-Lloreda 1984 and with Panamaby the treaty Calderon Ozores 1980. 

In total, Costa Rica comprises 51 100 km2 589 km2 over territorial waters. Costa Rica is a mountainous country and most of the territory consists of elevations between 900 and 1800 meters above sea level. There are three major mountain ranges: Guanacaste Volcanic Cordillera, Sierra Mining Tilarán, the Central Volcanic Cordillera and the Cordillera de Talamanca, there are also four secondary mountain ranges: Mountainous areas of Nicoya located in the province of Guanacaste, or Fila Fila Costera Brunqueña named for its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, it runs through the province of Puntarenas in parallel, and finally in the South Pacíico have the Sierra de Osa, a series of mountains that extend to Panama, has altitudes between 600 and 1 500 m .In the center of the country is the Great Central Valley, a plateau characterized by their fertility and abundance of water sources, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, has a pleasant climate, living here most of the country's population, approximately 60% of the population. The Caribbean coastal plain has low altitude and is partially covered by rain forest. The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripo at 3 820 meters and is the fifth highest peak in Central America. 

The highest volcano is Irazu Volcano to 3 432 m. Costa Rica comprises many islands. Cocos Island (24 km2) is characterized by its distance from the continental shelf, 300 km from Puntarenas, but Calero Island is the largest island in the country with 151.6 km2. About 25% of national territory is protected by SINAC (National System of Conservation Areas), which oversees all the country's protected areas. Costa Rica has the highest density of species in the world.

Poás Volcano.

Barva Volvcano.